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Politics : Clinton's Scandals: Is this corruption the worst ever? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: PiMac who wrote (12381)	5/13/1999 8:08:00 AM
From: Liatris Spicata	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 13994

<<libs. are willing to countenance a morally bankrupt transaction on the basis of buyer beware>> You show a very shallow understanding of what libertarianism is all about. That does not deter you one whit from voicing your disapproval. To "countenance" means to show support or approval. Libertarians show tolerance for all kinds of activities they do not countenance. But yes, in libertarian ideology, two adults may engage in a morally bankrupt transaction so long as force, fraud, or the threat thereof is not employed. Simply because libertarians do not seek to make an activity illegal in no way implies support or approval. BTW, libertarians also believe you are responsible for the consequence of your own actions- "society" has no responsibility to rescue you from the consequences of your own foolishness. <<There is no expectation that society will ever improve, and so no effort or interest, in making that so.>> Complete and utter rubbish. Pure intellectual garbage emanating from your own ignorance and/or biliousness. While probably few libertarians profess a belief in the perfectibility of Man, many are interested in improving the spiritual and material side of men's lives. They simply do not believe in exercising force against adults to do so. The essence of libertarian philosophy is you are free to act according to your own will so long as you do not abrogate anyone else's rights. As far as "society improving"- well that is a highly subjective matter requiring hard judgements about what constitutes an improvement. I think most libertarians believe that, as people are stewards of their own happiness, that in the long run they will tend to avoid at least the most deleterious of behaviors. Will a free society eliminate self-destructive behavior? No. But neither has the current regime of repression- in many ways that regime has encouraged it (hey, what would you do if you were a 14 year old kid growing up in inner city America- would you flip burgers or run drugs?). Fifteen years ago I spoke with a US attorney who informed me that in his opinion if we legalized drugs, their use would not become more widespread. But he thought with vigorous law enforcement (whatever the hell that meant) we could significantly reduce it. Well we've maintained our destructive, insane war on drugs, but I don't think we've significantly reduced their use- well maybe, if Bill Clinton no longer snorts coke. Finally, I would note that libertarians of all stripes believe many institutions have a proper role to play in the improvement of men's morals and character. Starting with the family. But extending through churches, fraternal and service organizations, and even individual acts of good will. They just don't believe the coercive power of the state should be brought to bear on the matter. Perhaps in the interests of truth you would do well to avoid ascribing beliefs to people about whose ideology you know nothing. Larry